PLAGIARISM POLICY

1. Introduction

The Journal of Advances in Physics Education maintains a strict policy against plagiarism to ensure the originality and integrity of the scholarly works it publishes. The journal is committed to publishing original research and adheres to the highest standards of publication ethics. This policy outlines the definition of plagiarism, the procedures for detecting it, and the actions taken when it is identified. All authors submitting manuscripts must affirm that their work is original and has not been plagiarized.

2. Description

Plagiarism refers to presenting another person's work, ideas, words, or data as one's own without proper attribution or permission. Examples of plagiarism include, but are not limited to, the following:

Directly copying text, phrases, or substantial portions of another's work without using quotation marks and appropriate citation.
Paraphrasing another's work too closely without providing adequate attribution.
Using figures, tables, data, or research results from other sources without proper acknowledgment or permission.
Presenting ideas, theories, or interpretations from others as one's own original thought.
Self-plagiarism, also known as redundant or overlapping publication, means reusing significant portions of one's own previously published work without appropriate citation or justification.

Plagiarism constitutes a serious breach of academic and publication ethics and is unacceptable in any form. The journal expects all authors to acknowledge the work and ideas of others with due diligence.

3. Policy

Screening: All manuscripts submitted to the journal undergo a rigorous plagiarism check prior to peer review.
Tool: The journal uses Turnitin, an industry-standard plagiarism-detection tool, to screen submitted manuscripts for text similarity.
Similarity Index: Manuscripts with an overall similarity index exceeding 20% in Turnitin reports will undergo further scrutiny. The journal recognizes that similarity indices require careful interpretation.
Exclusions from Similarity Check: The plagiarism detection software will exclude references, bibliographies, and properly formatted direct quotations-enclosed in quotation marks and appropriately cited-from the similarity calculation.
Consequences of Plagiarism:
- Pre-publication: If plagiarism is detected in a submitted manuscript before publication, the manuscript will be rejected. The corresponding author will be notified, and if the plagiarism is extensive or severe, the authors' institutions may also be informed.
- Post-publication: If plagiarism is discovered in a published article, the journal will investigate the matter thoroughly. If plagiarism is confirmed, the article will be retracted. A retraction notice will be published, and the authors' institutions will be notified.
The journal reserves the right to take additional action as deemed appropriate, depending on the severity of the plagiarism.

4. Technicalities to Achieve and Materialize the Policies

Upon receiving a new manuscript, the editorial office will use Turnitin to generate a similarity report.
Editorial staff will carefully review the similarity report. A high similarity index does not automatically indicate plagiarism. Human oversight is essential. Editors will assess whether identified similarities constitute plagiarism or are legitimate, such as common phrases, standard methodological descriptions, or properly cited material.
Authors are responsible for ensuring the originality of their submissions and for correctly citing all sources. Authors must also obtain permission to use any copyrighted material.
Handling Suspected Cases: If plagiarism is suspected at any stage, the journal will follow its established ethical procedures to address such allegations. Authors will be given the opportunity to respond to the allegations.
The journal is committed to transparency in its plagiarism-checking process. Authors with questions about the plagiarism check are encouraged to contact the editorial office.
Continuous Improvement: The journal will regularly review and update its plagiarism policy and procedures to align with best practices and evolving publication ethics standards.